Conversations That Grow How Fear Shapes Leadership and What It Really Takes to Grow
Fear plays a bigger role in leadership than most of us want to admit. In this episode, Mike Konrad shares the conversation that revealed his fear-based decision making — and how that moment became the turning point that reshaped his leadership, his business, and ultimately, his life.
From being dismissed by his employer to building a company that has lasted more than 30 years, Mike opens up about the internal shifts behind his external success. He talks candidly about ego, bravado, revenge, approval, self-awareness, and the uncomfortable process of learning to lead differently.
If you’re navigating growth, change, or the uncomfortable realisation that what once worked no longer does, this conversation will speak to you.
What We Explore
- The surprising ways fear shows up in leadership decisions
- The mentor conversation that changed everything
- How fear-based thinking shapes cash flow, choices, and culture
- Making peace with the worst-case scenario
- Why early leadership traits often become later limitations
- The “starter fluid” analogy for ego, bravado, and urgency
- How Mike shifted from proving himself to serving others
- Why true leadership requires self-awareness and humility
- The mindset shift from doing everything yourself to trusting a team
- Redefining success as freedom — not validation
- What leaders at the early, frantic stage need to hear
Key Moments
01:26 The fear-based decisions hiding in plain sight
03:49 Becoming aware of the “lenses” shaping choices
09:50 Making peace with the worst to break decision paralysis
12:24 The conversation that sparked his business
19:50 How rejection triggered motivation and identity
23:54 The complicated emotional mix behind early leadership
30:39 When your strengths become your liabilities
33:06 The “starter fluid” metaphor for the early years
36:57 From smartest in the room to “stupidest in the room”
38:42 Redefining success as freedom
45:26 Leading less from proving, more from serving
47:03 Advice for leaders in survival mode
About Mike
Mike Konrad is the founder and CEO of Aqueous Technologies, a global leader in electronics reliability solutions, and the host of two podcasts:
- Reliability Matters
- The Reluctant Entrepreneur
He writes and speaks widely on leadership, business growth, and the mistakes that shape us.
Connect with Mike
- Website: mikekonrad.com
- Podcast: reluctantentrepreneurpodcast.com
- Aqueous Technologies: aqueoustech.com
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